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West Nile cases continue to increase

Published: Friday, November 23, 2012 at 6:40 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, November 23, 2012 at 6:40 p.m.

New cases of West Nile virus are continuing to pop up as Louisiana experiences one of the worst seasons for the mosquito-borne virus in history.

Though the weather has begun to cool down, it has not get gotten cold enough to curb mosquito populations. Fifteen more cases of West Nile were reported this week, and state officials are warning residents to continue to protect themselves against mosquito bites.

West Nile is a rare but serious disease carried by mosquitoes. Many people never realize they are infected. But in its most serious form, the disease can cause brain swelling and death.

The state is experiencing its most active year for West Nile since 2002, the first year Louisiana had a major outbreak and began tracking the disease. So far there have been 371 West Nile cases, of which 152 are the most-serious neuroinvasive form of the disease. Sixteen people have died. All of those deaths occurred within two weeks of developing West Nile.

In 2002, there were 328 cases and 24 deaths.

“Not only do we continue to find more cases, this week we have three parishes reporting their first human cases of West Nile for the year,” said Bruce D. Greenstein, state Department of Health and Hospitals secretary. “Clearly, this virus remains a threat, and it's important to protect your health and avoid mosquito bites even as the weather gets colder and drier.”

Cases were reported this week in Assumption, Jefferson, Orleans, Tangipahoa, Rapides, Catahoula, East Baton Rouge, Ouachita, St. Landry and Winn parishes. No new cases were reported in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes.

So far this year there have been three cases of West Nile reported in Terrebonne and five cases reported in Lafourche.

Jessie Boudreaux, owner of Cajun Mosquito Control, Terrebonne's mosquito control services, said all of the company's recent tests for West Nile have been coming back negative, but he warned residents to remain diligent about protecting themselves.

“We could continue to have an active November if the weather stays in the 70s,” he said.

The upswing in West Nile cases was caused by an unusually warm spring that allowed mosquitoes to flourish. Generally, transmission of West Nile picks up in early summer and continues through October.

He added as the weather becomes consistently cooler, mosquitoes will drop off. They generally become inactive when the weather drops below 50 degrees.

“Hopefully we'll get some cooler weather to knock back these mosquito populations,” Boudreaux said.

To prevent mosquito bites, avoid being outside at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. If you are outside, make sure to wear a mosquito repellent with DEET. Children should wear repellents containing no more than 30 percent DEET. Insect repellents shouldn't be worn by children younger than 2 months.

Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when outdoors for long periods of time. Avoid perfumes and colognes. Make sure your house has tight-fitting windows, screens and doors.

Also, remove standing water from around your home or property, where mosquitoes will breed. Turn over buckets or plastic wading pools and clean clogged roof gutters.

Staff Writer Nikki Buskey can be reached at 857-2205 or

nicole.buskey@houmatoday.com.

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